Implement or machine for harvesting maize



Dec, 15,1925- 4 D. J. DU PLESSIS IIPLEIENT OR IACHINB FOR HARVESTING [A128 Filed June 9. 1920 2 aim-am. 1

Dec} 15, 1925.

D. J. DU PLESSIS IMPLEMENT 0R MCHINE FOR HARVESTING MAIZB Filed June 9. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 15, 1925.

, UNITE; sm te ;;1;;A.T;EN;T;QFFIE' DANIEL JACOBUS DU PLESSIS,-OE1 KOSIER; TRANSYAAL;.SOUTH AFRICA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO JOSEPH DEARLOISFE HARDY; ;VERSTER, -01? KOSTER. TRANSVAAL,

SOUTH AFRICA.

i 1 IMPLEMENT on. MACHINE non HAnv s'rrNG, rInIzE.

Application filed an, a,

To writ-0m it may concern: [I

Be it known that I, DANmL JAoo Us no PLESSIS, subject of the King ofGrreat Britain,'and resident of Koster, Transvaal Province, Union of South Africa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Implements or Machines for Harvesting Maize, of which the following is a specifica This invention relates to a maehineffor harvesting maize; that is, for reaping or detaching the maize ears from the stalks of the plants and gathering or collecting the same. r

In harvesting maize by mechanical means it is necessary for the grain ears .to be snapped or broken on the stalks, and during this operation the plant is liable to be pulled bodily out of the'ground; particularly 'is this the case in wet or loose or sandy soil; ()n the other hand, in the case of hard ground, the stalk is liable to be broken-or torn, and so result in the whole or a large portion thereof being gathered or collected attached to the ear. The machinemust be capable of picking the ears off single stalks or oil several stalks, as when the plants stand in clusters or have sprouts. It is also necessary that the machine should detaeh'the cars from any stalks that have fallen over or are inclined in any direction.

It is the object ofthis invention to'constreet a machine which will overcome these diiliculties and possess the requisite attril'mtes. W

The improved machine can be adapted for harvesting simnltaneously, one, two, three or more rows of the plants, as may be desired.

The machine comprises, for each row of plants, means in the form of a suitable roller, for engaging with and retaining or holding down the stalks of the plants during th'e time that the means which detach the are operating on the stalks. The roller is adapted also to serve the-purpose of a road or transport wheel for the machine, and also to drive the ear-detaching means. The roller is positioned at such a distance at the rear of ,.the front portion of the ear-detaching means that, if the stalk be a broken one. the engagement of the ear-detaching means with the ear or ears on the stalk will take place at such a distance in advance of the pointat which the stalk is held on the ground by the roller, that oniy'a "very short portion of the stalk 'will be detached with the ear, and this will only occur in tliose'few'cases where the ear is very firmly connected with the stalk. The means for detaching the ears consists of a pan-10rchains, the links or pivoted members of which are constructed or provided' with outwardly extending lingers, bladesf'or'. projections, by which the stalks are engagedand the ears detached. These chains,'which preferably converge from the back to v the front, may be driven by sprocket wheels, which may" becombined with bevel wheels driven by other bevel wheels on a drivingsliaft. The driving shaft may in turn be driven by sprocketwheels and a chain from the rolleraxle, through a suitable clutch. Means may be provided for maintaining the driving chain under suitable tension.

Members, preferably in the form of bars, are provided which serve as supports for the lingers or projections of the chains, during the time that they are operating on the stalks, and said bars are appropriately shaped to operate as guides for gradually detlectingthe stalks from between the lingers orprojections. These guides and supporting bars are preferably curved outwardly at the front, then converge, and then run parallel in the' di'reetionof therear of the machine. Covers or"gu'ard members are preferably provided for protecting the chains, their sprockets and the driving means for the latterf" 'U rider the rear portions of the chains, and

at the rear of the guide and supporting bars,-

an inclined tray or plate is arranged, up which the detached ears are moved, preferably'bv' the action of the chains. At the back of the trayor plate a receptacle is provided to receive the ears. Means are provided for' raising and lowering the chains by moving them, together with their supporting frames, in order to regulate or adjust the height at which the cnains operate at the front of the machine, and for temporarily lowering the front portions. of the chains to engage inclined or fallen stalks.

The chains are suitably inclined downwardly from. the back to the front of the narily work at a height of say six 6) v to eight .csna e aa 'the 'srei i w Each finger which may be five to SIX (6; inches (more or less) long, exten'ds ont wardly from-"itslinkIina substantially' hori s zental directiont and they may' b'e sa-spaced Inlmoulng roundfthesprocket wheels the thickness of :the ears.

fingersgopen.outwardly inthe direction of their outer ends, and soserve .to engage. and deflectthe stalks ofthe-ro wof plants in- Wardly betweenfithe fingers or'projections of the two cooperating;chains. The stalks are pulled downwards between the fingers by the action oftherolle r as the machine-advances, and the ears areddetachedlby ,the action of the fingers, owing to the space' between'the fingers, .when parallel, being les sthan the The fingers then operate as conveyors, andllcarry the ears to and move. them up, the,:in clined tray and over the upper i'ear end iofpthe;latter into. the receptacle at; the \back. of .the machine. The opening. lthe fingers, as; the chains pass round th bhclndriving sprocket wheels, releases any: ears that have been held or gripped lbetween. them,=- anddelivers them on to theupper portion of'theinclinedtray, whence they pass into the receptacle at the rear.

The fingers lmay, belformed with a shar enedbackfledgegtozcut anyears that mig t jamb too t htly .between them, and so obviate putting. any excessive. strain on the fingers. I, V

In the accompanying drawings there is illustrated, by way of example, a practical embodiment of;the, invention. designed for taking .the ears ofi the :stalksof two parallel rows wofflmaize plants} In the; drawings. Y Fig. 11s a side elevation of the machine, the ear-detaching chain seen int-his view being represented by a dotted line, in order to render the driving. means 1 for the chain the more clear.

Fig.2 is a front elevation of the machine,

partlyin section, with the: ear-detaching chains andcertain other parts removed."

Fig 3 is a vplanview of 'the machine, one co-operating pair of the ear-detaching chains being shown and the other pair 'beingremoved. v

Fig. 1 is anenlarged detail view-of one of the rear sprocked wheels for the ear-detaching. chains, andits. driving and-supporting means.

I chains.

igsl and fiare enl trged idetail views at right angles, of one of the front sprocket whee1for the ear-detaching chains and its supporti'ngI-bracketi w Figs. 7 and 18' are enlarged detail views of one of the fingers of Tthe-iear-detaching The machine, constructed as shown, is designed to be drawn by animal power, although it may'be drawn by a tractor or any other form of mechanical power. the purpose ofatt a'ching the animals to the machine a pole l'is provided, which atthe front is shown fitted with a shackle-2, or the like, for connecting to it the draught means, through} which the power is applied.

With the arrangement shown, the animal power will preferablybe connected to the machine in sucha way that the animals can walk at the outside of each of the two rows of plants which are .to be harvested. The pole 1 at its rear 'end'is carried by the members cf'the' main frame, which are in the form of a bridle and consist of the two par ts:3, 4c, which are attached at their inner ends to the sides of the pole '1, and at theirloth er endslooselyfembrace the ends of a shaft f). :15,- 7, are collars, fixed onthe ends of the shaft 5, for keeping the shaft in position in the main frame; 8, 9, are inclined 'stays for connecting the vertical portions of the parts 8, 1, to the pole 1, near its rear end.

10, 11, 12, 13' are four frames, which are arranged in two pairs .and are provided on the underside with bearings 14, for'mounti'ng them on' the shaft or axle .5. One pairof frames 10, 11, serves for carrying oneipair of ear-detaching chains and their co-operating' elements, and the other pair 12, 13,'the other ear-detaching chains and their co-operating elements.

On the shaftor axle-5, between each of the pairs of'frames 10, 11, and 12, 13, there is mounted a suitable heavy roller, 15 and 16, which, by rolling over the plants, serves to hold down the stalks of the plants against the action of the ear-detaching,chains. These rollers 15, 16, are each provided-with a dif ferential clutch 17 whichis shown arranged inside the roller-see Fig. 2. The teeth of one part 18 of i the clutch 17 are shown formediaround a boss on the inside of the end plate of the roller, and the teeth on the other part 19 are held in engagement therewith by means of "a springi20. 21 is the feather or key for the movable part 19 of the clutch. These differential clutches 17 operate to drive the shaft or axle 5 from either or the same time, allow the rollers 15, 16, to move independently onthe axle 5, to allow forthevariation or difference inspeed of the rollers 15, 16, when the machine is being turned.

bothof the rollers 15, 16, and at 1 For For the purpose of driving the 'twopairs of ear-detaching chains from the shaft or axle 5, a clutch 22 is provided upon'the axle 5, near its centre. This clutch 22 comprises the two toothed parts 23, 24, spring 25 and collar 26. The one part 24 of the clutch 22 is connected with a driving sprocketwheel 27, which, through the chain 28,? and sprocket wheel 29, drives a shaft 30.- This shaft 30 runs in fourbearings 31,-which are carried by brackets 32 fixed to the frames 10, 11, 12, 13. For operating the clutch'22, a cam 33 is provided, attached to one=end of a rod or spindle 34, on the upper end of which an operating lever 35 is fixed. The spindle 34, at its upper end, works in a hole in the part 3 of the bridle, and. near its other end engages in a bracket 35 fixed to the frame 11. 36, 37 are two collars fixed on the spindle 34, above and below the bracket 35*, respectively, to keep the spindle 34 and cam 33 in position between thehalves of the clutch 22. 38 is a collarffixedon the axle 5 for'preventing movement of the nonslidable part 24 of the clutch22 along the axle, and maintaining the sprocket-t wheels 27 and 29 and chain 28 in alignment. 1

On the driving shaft 30 there are" fixed four bevel wheels 39, one for driving each of the four ear-detaching chains.

As each pair of ear-detaching chains s constructed and arranged to co operate=rin the same manner, it will sufiice to describe one pair only, and, as thedetails-of construction of each chain are similar, it;will only be necessary to describe the construction of one chain. 1

For the purpose of driving each of the chains a pin or stud 40 is fixed in each-of the bearings 31 of the driving shaft 30-see Fig. 4. On this pin 40 the chain-driving sprocket wheel 41 is loosely mounted; This sprocket wheel 41 is connected to a bevel pinion 42, which meshes with and is driven by the bevel wheel 39 on the shaft 30-'see Fig. 1. The pin or stud 40, above the sprocket wheel 41, is supported by a stay 43, connecting it to the framesee Figs. 1 and 4. The ear-detaching chains, at the front of the machine, pass round similar sprocket wheels 44, which are carried by. adjustable brackets 45, fixed to the lower front portions of the framesee Figs. 1, 5 and 6.

As seen more particularly in Fig. 3,"the distance between the centres of the sprocket wheels 44 for the front portions of each pair of co-operating chains, 1s somewhat less than the distance between the centres ofthe back driving sprockets 41, so that the chains of each pair diverge somewhat from the front to the back of the machine. The frames 10, 11, 12, 13, are shapedsee Fig. 1-so as suitably to incline the chains in a downward direction from the back to the front of the machine.

,The brackets-"45, which carry at the front of the machine, the sprocket: wheels 44-for the chains; are preferably-5 constructed so that the difference between itheir'lcentres can be-adjusted within certain limits. To. provide for this, thebracket 45 is shown-see 'Fig. 6' constiucted witha "radial slot 46, at

the rear of the hole 47,. about. which hole 47,'the bracket-45 can be adjusted on the bolt 48, which pivotally securesit to the frame- 49- i swa bolt, which engages in the radial slot 46, for'bolting the bracket'to the frame afteradjustment. This construction allows the chains to be adjusted to vary the distance betwecn. the fingers of the two' cooperating'ch'ainsat the front of the machine.

hiach chain, as shown more particularly in Figs. 3,7 and 8, consists of the requisite number of'links, each link', as shown, being constructed-inl-one piece with an outwardly extending finger or projection 50. These fingers or projections 50, as-shown morepa-rticularly'in Fig. 8, arepreferably bevelled off to form .a-sharpened-,edge, which serves for cutting 'tjnroughany ears that-might be gripped "too tightly Y between. the. fingers 50, =and.wh1ch-- might tendto break the fingers if they were not cut.-

1 Thedisposition of the chains of each cooperating pa1r relative to each other, and then; arrangement in relation to their respec- -t1ve rollers 15 or.16,.are clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. As seen in. Fig. 3, each pair forms between its supporting frames a grid or grating which precludes the passage of the maize ears through it, and acts as a conveyor to carry the ears upwards, after they have been detached by the action of he For the'purpose of guiding or deflecting the stalks ofthe plants between the chains, or of assisting to do so, and, as the machine continues to advance, of moving the stalks from between the innerends to the outer ends of thefingers, two rails 51 are provided for each pa1rof chains, one being arranged immediately beneath the front portion of towards the back of the machine. The guiding and supporting bars or rai1s 51, and the fingers'50 of the chains, are so arranged that no opening is' formed between them of a sufficient size to allow any ears of normal size to fall through. The distance'between the ends-i of the :efinge-rs increases gradually from theviront'i to the back oi the machine;- so thatthe StalkS,HWhI1--1I}OVB(1 byi'thezrails 51' into 'a -position" between the i ends, "of zth'e opposing fingers ofszthe twol-chai'ns'; arteiable freely to pass doiwnitnomi between! thewcha-ins as the advancing roller rolls=them down;-.

made of 'angle' iron, one ot-whichis secured P to the centre pins of'thesprocket wheels 41, 44 of each chain; The guards 57- for the two-outer chains 'a'rerut away or shaped as indicated at 5'7"","to clea'rthe lliSiCl60ftll6 parts 3, 4: of the bridle ormaihfirarnea The bottom[portion's ot 1 the guards -57' serve to protect the sprocket--wheels 41;- ,44, and the driving gear co'-operating therewith';"and the inner' vertical sides of said 'guards'serve as retaining flanges and "guides' for the' ears alongside the fingers: or the chains;-

If. desired or found requisite, means may be provided formaintaining the driving chain '28 under suitable tension.

The arrangement representedin the drawing for this purpose consists of a suitable heavy roller 58,engaging with theinside' of the chain- 28,- see"Fig; =l a-pair of'links 59, which-carry thespindleof the-roller 58, and an eye-bolt (Sm-which pivotal'ly connects the other ends of the li'nksto a bar 61. 'Thebar G1, which extends across theback-0t the machine; is secured to all thetour frames 10, 11, 12, '13, for the purpose of" giving the requisite stability tothe structure carrying the ear-detaching chains and their driving means. I

The adjustable means shownfor placing the-ear-detaching chains at thedesired inclination' to the ground, and for lowering the-same at the front in order that they will engage any' slanting'or-fallen stalks, consi'sts' of a lever'62, whiclnat-its lower end 'is fixed t0the:cross-bar61! The lever '62 is provided with" a spring catch 63,'' for -'cooperating witha quad-rant64', secured to the re'ar'end ofthe 'polejl. As'will be-understood, the chains may be adjusted or set at the desired inclination, as well as te'mpora rily lowered, by releasing thecatch 63' from the teetliofthe'quadrant 64 and moving the lever in the requisite direction; allthe four m s 1. el2w 3, en shepa si r tr e thereby rotatin sg-pnethe ,main? :axle ,5 during, nzvisur diustmentw a; i; .--Therolle %s i ral yzwh lssr e for were: a ndzi nsz dewnal i maiz Pl t serve ials onas the transport rollers L Y they-,nare l r: F H PQF ZY191 l fi1i llll th9 clutch 22 ispperated; toggliscennect frpm the main axle 5 the chain drive-forshattfiQ In the, operationof the{machine it-wi;lll,.lie understood thatethe fingers o-fthe chains, which'hare splayfed'; or! opened outy atr the front, as t-hei r-c'arrying links-pass round the front I sprocket wheels;lfirst engage with,.tl ie stalks V of the plants and move (13116113 in Ibe; tween the-fingers of lillfilpitlllijoflOOPfiUtltlfllg chains; Under tl1e!guidancer-of;tl1e guide bars the stalks. are gradually inovedtowards the ends ofthe fingers --The rollerzis mean,- timeengaging with 1the stalks at the ground leveland holds themefirmlyqand-trolls; over them,- so that as the"macliinevadvances,,the stalks are 'drawnvdown rand t-he -ea'rs de+ tachedi by 1 the. action of! ithevfingersf, [which are spacedtabout: enough; to allow theitstallks to pass '2 between 'them abut; sufiiciently close to retai-nwthe-thicke'n; ears-a Thee'real's are then transferred by'ithe aotionrof the chains conveyingthemiupzthefftray andldel-ivening them into the receptacle fiat-the back The guide bars operate-toadisengage (the; stalks from the fingers sorithat 'any ear omanyipar ticularly' longs stalk u would be" detachedezat the narrow parallel-sided' portioni ot the opening: formed-between: therinnerr portions of said: guide bars, 2 which openingi iis; too narrow to allow any ordinary ear to pass through it. 4

What]: claim as my i invention; and. de+ sire to protect by Letters iP'atent; is

1. An implem enfi tor harvesting mains, including a pair of' co operatingl chains; the links of which are" provided wan fingers which operate to detaehthe ears froml the stalks'of theplantsmnd a road wheelavhich serves'as a rollerfordmldingdli stalks ot the plants and 'dra x'vin'g' thindown through thefingers=of-the co operating chain's:

2:An 'implein'e'nt to'r harvesting maize,- ineludi ngfa' pair of co-op'erating chainsthe links of which "are? provided witlr fingers which operate to detach the-ears froin the stalks of: the -plants, a roll'er for holding the stalks ofthe plantsand drawing them dc'iwn through the fingers of 'the cooperating chains,",an axle for said rel-lei; and means for driving the ear-detaching I chains from said axle." I

- 3.' implement tor harvestingl' maize,

including a'- pair of'ce operating chains the links of which are plGYidd with fingers which" operate to 'de tach 'the eaps from the stalks of the plaritsgia roller =fo'r holding the stalks of'the plants anddrawingthern down through the fingers of the co-operating chains, an axle for said roller, and means for driving the ear-detaching chains from said axle, said driving means consisting of a chain, and sprocket wheels onthe axle and on the driving shaft for the ear-detaching chains, a clutch, clutch operating means, and gearing for transmitting the motion from the shaft to the driving sprockets of the chains.

4. An implement for harvesting maize, including a plurality of pairs of co-operating chains, the links of each of which are provided with lingers which operate to detach the ears from the stalks of the plants, a road wheel for each pair of said chains, an axle for said road wheels, said road Wheels serving as rollers to hold down the stalks of the plants while they are drawn through the ear-detaching chains.

5. An implement for harvesting maize, including a plurality of pairs of co-operating chains, the links of each of which are provided with fingers which operate to detach the ears from the stalks of the plants, a roller for each pair of said chains, and an axle for the rollers, said roller serving to hold down the stalks of the plants While they are drawn through the ear-detaching chains, and each of saidrollers having a differential clutch, which clutches permit the rollers to move independently on their axle and allow for the difference in the speed of the rollers when the machine is being turned.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

DANIEL JACOBUS DU PLESSIS. 

